We’re delighted to announce two new lay (independent) members of University Council, Madeleine Atkins and Stephen Young. Today, 15 May 2019, marks the first meeting of University Council since approval of their appointments.
Lay members are independent people, neither employees or students of the University, who are appointed by Council to help govern the University and hold the University Executive to account. Lay members also have a role in advising and guiding the Executive from time to time and offering the benefit of their experience, operating in a similar way to non-Executive Directors of PLC boards.
Lay members hold the majority of seats on the University Council to ensure the governing body’s independence.
Dame Madeleine Atkins
Madeleine Atkins, DBE, is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Since 2018, she has served as the 9th President of Lucy Cavendish College at Cambridge University.
She was a school teacher before completing a PhD at Nottingham University and undertaking various research projects as a postdoc. She then joined Newcastle University as a Lecturer in Education Management, where she rose to be Pro Vice-Chancellor. She was Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University from 2004 to 2013, and then served as Chief Executive of HEFCE from 2014 to 2018.
Stephen Young
Stephen Gareth Young is a British businessman. He was the Chief Executive (CEO) of Meggitt PLC, a British engineering business specialising in aerospace equipment, from May 2013 until December 2017. Prior to that, he held various senior financial positions including CFO or Group Finance Director roles at Meggitt PLC, Thistle Hotels PLC and The Automobile Association. He is a chartered management accountant and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Derwent London PLC, Weir Group PLC and Mondi Group.
University Council
University Council is the University’s governing body, which meets six times a year. It approves the strategic plans of the University and is ultimately responsible for its finances, buildings and staff.
There are five classes of Council membership, one of which is lay (independent) members.
You can read more about Council and Council members here.
